Foot impression device



Aug. 24, W3? w. P. KoPPE FOOT IMPRESSION DEVICE Filed MaIOh 28, 1955 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FOOT IMPRESSION DEVICE William P. Koppe, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application March 28, 1935, Serial No. 13,383

10 Claims.

My invention relates to foot impression devices and is concerned more particularly with providing a unitary and easily transportable apparatus for the taking of foot impressions in order to secure information respecting the configuration of the foot as well as its size.

In the fitting of footwear, the selection of the proper shoe for any particular person should be based upon accurate information respecting the foot, and this knowledge should not only include the ordinary data on the length and width of the foot, but also precise information regarding any abnormalities thereof, such as may be produced by fallen arches, enlarged joints, callouses and 10 like ailments. Shoe measuring sticks are now commonly employed for determining foot widths I and lengths, and there are also other devices for taking the impression of the foot by pressing the latter against an ink-carrying member which in turn contacts a sheet of paper, so that a shoe retailer, for example, can properly iit shoe wear. A device of the latter type is illustrated in United States Patent to Rosino No. 1,225,500, dated May 18, 1914, and the present invention relates to a device of the same general character, but differing in its nature of operation.

One object of my invention is to devise a foot impression device in which the ink-carrying member is fixed at its opposite ends and is shifted bodily from a position over the impression-receiving paper to a position exposing the paper, thereby eliminating the customary spring retracted roller on which the member is wound.

A further object is to provide a device in which the sheets of paper on which the impressions are made are carried on the oor of the device and below the ink-carrying sheet which is maintained in an extended condition, both in the impression-taking position and when shifted to ex- 0 pose the paper.

A further object is to provide a device in which the inking roll is rotatably carried by the frame of the device and which is adapted to apply ink to the ink-carrying member by and during the movement of the latter.

A further object is to so locate the inking roll relative` to the ink-carrying sheet that the latter is substantially parallel, and relatively close, to 50i-.he paper that receives the impression when the sheet is iny impression-taking position, thereby avoiding any necessity for applying considerable pressure in order to make anr intelligible impression, since such action is frequently objectionv55.able and also quite dilicult,v particularlyfwliere the person has weak feet or legs, or in the case of a child.

A further object is to associate with the device indicated a shield for protecting the user against inadvertent contact with the inked sur- 5 face of the ink-carrying sheet when in extended position.

A further object is to provide a relatively thin, compact foot impression device which is adapted for easy handling and transportation.

These and further objects of my invention will be set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are effectuated will be denitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved device as it appears to the user when a foot impression is being taken.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 in Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a portion of the device, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but illustrating the apron or ink-carrying member in 25 extended position for the purpose of removing the paper sheet on which the impression has been made.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View, partly in section, of the lower left end of the device, as 30 viewed in Fig. 1, looking from the bottom of the device.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the lower right corner of the device and looking from the bottom thereof, as viewed in Fig. l. 35

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, sectional elevation of the shielding curtain and associated roller.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I Il designates the base of the device which is provided with upstanding, marginal end walls II and I2, a marginal side wall I3, and a marginal side wall I 4 which is provided for substantially its full length with a slotted opening I5 for a purpose hereinafter explained. The disposition of the aforesaid end and side walls defines a rectangular shaped opening I6, so that the device presents generally the appearance of a shallow receptacle.

Grooves I1 extend lengthwise of the inner surfaces of the end walls II and I2 and a similar groove I8 is provided in the side wall I3. An open, rectangular-shaped frame I9 slides freely in the grooves I'I and, when in the position shown in Fig. 2, one side of the frame is seated in the groove I8. An ink-carrying member, such as va rubber apron 20 has its opposite ends secured to that side of the frame I9 which is seated in the groove I8 and also to that side of the frame which is located beyond the side wall I4, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Below the slot I5, the side wall I4 is recessed to receive an ink-carrying roll 2I having a length at least equal to the width of the apron 20 and whose end pintles are rotatably supported in wings 22 forming part of an upstanding, U- shaped support 23 that is provided with tabs 24 secured to the base Ill (see Fig. 4). The particular construction of this roll does not form any part of the present invention and it may be provided with a silk covered felt pad, such as is disclosed in the aforesaid Rosino patent. A guide roll 25 is located adjacent the inking roll 2l and its ends are also rotatably supported in the wings 22. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the right ends of the rolls 2I and 25 abut against a stop plate 25, while the opposite ends of the same rolls extend through the apertures in the wing 22 and abut against a spring plate 27. This construction avoids the use for slots in order to position the indicated rolls, since the left ends thereof may be inserted through the apertures in the wing 22 to flex the spring plate 21 and thereby permit the insertion of the right ends of the same rolls in the right hand wing 22. After being so positioned, the spring plate 2'I moves the rolls endwise into the positions indicated in Fig. 5.

The connecting portion of the support 23 between the wings 22 forms a distributing n 23 which extends upwardly to contact with the underside of the apron 20. As shown in Fig. 2, the apron, between the n 28 and the inking roll 2| extends around the lower surface of the guide roll 25. This construction insures that the apron contacts with a very appreciable portion of the surface of the inking roll so that the latter will convey a working supply of ink to the under surface of the apron.

As a further improvement, a pair of spaced brackets 29 extend outwardly from. the side walls I4 and support therebetween a shaft 30 forming part of a curtain roller 3l. As is usual in this type of roll, one end thereof is bored to provide a recess 32 within which is received a coil spring 33 that encircles the shaft 30, one end of this spring being attached to the roll 3| and the opposite end to the shaft 30. A curtain 34 is wrapped around the roll 3|, the inner end of the curtain being secured to the roll and the opposite end to the frame I9, externally of the side wall I4. A nger pull loop 35 is also provided on the same portion of the frame, and is located above the curtain roller 3l.

In taking a foot impression, a suitable impression receiving member, such as a pad of paper 36, is rested on the base I0 between the side wall I3 and the distributing fin 28, when the frame I9 is in the extended position shown in Fig. 3. Preferably, the inside marginal relation of the side wall I3, the end walls II and I2, and the n 28 are such that they closely approximate the marginal outline of the paper pad, so that one of the end walls may be conveniently employed as a heel stop. Moreover, these paper sheets are customarily lined or marked to indicate foot sizes.

The frame I9 is then moved inwardly toward the position shown in Fig. 2 and this operation, due to the frictional contact between the apron 20 and the inking surface of the roll 2I, causes a rotation of the latterbroll and consequently an application of ink to the under surface of the apron. The ink so applied is evenly distributed over the surface of the apron by the n 28.

The foot is then pressed against the apron and the pressure is continued until the apron contacts with the pad 36, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The impression so made will be somewhat shadowy in appearance and will thereby indicate abnormalities of the foot, because those parts which protrude the most will produce the darkest areas on the paper because of the increased pressure. Many ailments of the foot may thus be effectively ascertained and a proper decision made regarding the style of footwear. The sheet of paper on which the impression is made may be removed after shifting the frame I9 to the position shown in Fig. 3.

During the latter operation, the curtain 34 is unwound from the roll 3I and thereby functions to protect the operator against contact with the wet surface of the apron 20. When the frame is returned to impression-taking position, the curtain is automatically rewound on the roll 3I by the action of the spring 33. The user is always assured of an adequate supply of ink to the under surface of the apron 20, because each reciprocation of the frame I9 causes a traverse of the apron 2D over the surface of the inking roll 2|.

When the pad 36 is of a suitable height, the apron 20 is located just slightly above the upper surface of the former thereby substantially lessening the amount of pressure required to effect an adequate impression, owing to the short distance through which it is necessary to displace the apron. Accordingly, this device is highly useful for the taking of impressions of persons with weak feet or legs, or children, since slight pressure will still secure intelligible impressions.

Aside from the foregoing advantages, the device is characterized by compactness and an absence of any necessity for employing the customary spring retracted roller over which the rubber apron has heretofore been wound. In addition, the receptacle construction of the base Il! provides a very convenient storage space for a number of sheets which comprise the pad 33 and these sheets may be allowed to remain in the device until the entire pad is exhausted.

I claim:

1. A foot impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, arelatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed by the foot .against the part, and an inking roller mounted on the base for applying ink to the apron during the movement of the frame.

2. A foot impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impression-talc,v

ing and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed by the foot against the part, an inking roller mounted on the base for applying ink to the apron during the movement of the frame, and a n mounted on the base and contacting the apron to substantially evenly distribute the applied ink.

3. A foot impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair o-f the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed by the foot against the part, an inking roller mounted on the base for applying ink to the apron during the movement of the frame, and a guide roller positioned relative to the inking roller to cause the apron to contact with an appreciable portion of the inking roller surface.

4. A foot impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed by the foot againstv the part, an inking roller mounted on the base for applying ink to the apron during the movement of the frame, and a iin contacting the apron to substantially evenly distribute the applied ink, the upper edge of the fin positioning the apron in substantially parallel relation to the surface of the part when the frame is in impression-taking position.

5. A foot impression device comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to support on the floor thereof a part for receiving impressions and an opening in one side Wall thereof, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable in the receptacle through the opening to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, andA a flexible, inked apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed into contact with the part when the frame is in impression-taking position.

6. A foot-impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impressiontaking and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed by the foot against the part, and inking means adapted to apply ink to the apron during and controlled by the movement of the frame.

'7. A foot impression device comprising a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions, a relatively light weight wire loop frame shiftable endwise on the base to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, an apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed b-y the foot against the part, an inking roller mounted on the base for applying ink to the apron during the movement of the frame, and means for causing the apron to wrap around an appreciable portion of the inking roller surface.

8. A foot impression device comprising in combination, a shallow, open top receptacle having a base adapted to support a part for receiving impressions and marginal Walls extending around the base, one of the walls including a slot-like passage therethrough substantially parallel to the base and the remaining walls each including a groove in the inner face thereof at substantially the same elevation as the passage, a relatively light Weight wire loop frame shiftable through the passage to impression-taking and exposing positions, and an inked apron supported between a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed into contact with the part.

9. A foot impression device comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to support on the floor thereof a part for receiving impressions and including an opening in one side wall thereof, a wire loop frame shiftable in the receptacle through the opening to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, a flexible, inked apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides of the frame and adapted to be pressed into contact with the part when the frame is in impressiontaking position, and a Wound Shield curtain rotatably mounted on the receptacle, one end of the curtain being connected to the frame whereby the movement of the frame to exposing position unwinds the curtain and protects the user against the exposed, inked surface of the apron.

l0. A foot impression device comprising a shallow receptacle adapted to support on the floor thereof a part for receiving impressions and including an opening in one side wall thereof, a wire loop frame shiftable in the receptacle through the opening to impression-taking and exposing positions, respectively, a iiexible, inked apron extending across the frame and secured at its ends to a pair of the opposite sides thereof and adapted to be pressed into contact with the part when the frame is in impression-taking position, and a protective curtain mounted on and movable relative to the receptacle, said curtain being connected to the frame whereby the movement of the latter to exposing position shifts the curtain to a shielding position relative to the inked surface of the apron.

WILLIAM P. KOPPE.

CSI 

